SPIN LIKE THE WIND-the blog of Nigel James.: INDIAN SUMMER.

Well I'm back home after a mammoth 30 hour journey from Pastor Prasad's house! I fell ill on Tuesday night and didn't travel with the team on the overnight train. Instead I flew Rajahmundry-Hyderabad-Delhi-Zurich-London with long waits in Hyderabad and Delhi. Feeling very hot, tired and ill all the way! Apart from that minor frustration, the mission trip was a great success and the team from IPFW were outstanding.

It was particularly good to get to know Ben Gates and his wife Janet better. They are a good couple! One of the highlights I previously forgot to mention was when I presented Sagar, our Ignite India Youth Director, with the keys for his new motorbike-funded from the Ignite Office in the UK. It came in very handy on a number of occasions, especially when we visited a remote hillside village church only accessible by motorbikes. Sagar will use the motorbike to visit the growing number of Ignite youth in the many villages in which Gateway ministry have churches. The day at the Come Together Compound included speaking to 20 or so student teachers brought along by Prasad's wife Sunnee who is studying to be the head teacher of the school. Some of the students are Christians, but the number who are Hindu's were intrigued by my presentation about it's not just important what you know but who you know!

Particularly special was seeing the school a couple of steps nearer to completion-although I'm not sure we'll reach our September target- and to see children both having great fun and worshipping the Lord. India made a massive impression on the whole team- Ben,Janet,Benjamin,Rachel,Sarah,Jenn,Brittany,Valerie,Tony, Ryan, and Jordan. I'm sure that collectively IPFW Campus Ministry will develop a relationship with Prasad and help us with our Ignite India work and the school. For me, I'm praying that their experiences on this short-term mission will have long-lasting impact in their walk with Jesus.